STEFANACONI_RUGGIERO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Stefanaconi, Calabria

STEFANACONI_RUGGIERO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Stefanaconi, in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of about 3,508 people and has a designed capacity of 6,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 694.46 cubic meters per day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. This level of treatment is typically implemented in sensitive areas to reduce nutrient loads and protect receiving water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding the water quality of the region's rivers and coastal environment, supporting both ecological health and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange. The coastal waters of Calabria support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fisheries. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient enrichment and protects the ecological balance of the downstream marine environment.